Bag-holder for mail-bag cranes



J. W. EARDLY. BAG HOLDER FOB MAIL BAG CRANES.

(A15 plication filed Dec. 6, 1897. N 0 M o d M.)

NlTlED STATES PATENT l FFICE.

BAG-HOLDER FOR MAIL-BAG CRANES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 609,419, dated August 23, 1898.

Application fil d December 6, 1897. Serial No. 660,922. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES W. EARDLY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gascade, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bag-Holders for Mail-Bag Cranes; and I do hereby declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to mail-bag cranes, and more especially to the part'of the same for engaging the straps of the mail-bag; and its object is to provide a device that will securely hold the bag and that will release the same with certainty when the same is caught by the passing train and to provide the said device with certain new and useful features hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in Which Figure 1 is a perspective of a mail-bag crane with my device attached; Fig. 2, an enlarged detail of my device in side elevation; Fig. 3,

a plan view of the same; Fig. 4, an end elevation of the same, and Fig. 5 a perspective detail showing the method of supporting the mail-bag.

Like letters refer to like parts in all of the figures.

A represents the post, B the upper arm, and G the lower arm, of a mail-bag crane as usually made.

D is a suitable casting attached to the end of each of the arms B and G and provided with parallel lugs E to engage the sides of the spring K, secured to the arm of the crane, and journal-bearings F F, in which is journaled a shaft G, having attached at its outer end oppositely-projecting arms H, each having an enlarged end or head I, and on the inner end of said shaft is attached a square head J, engaged by the end of the springK. The line of the arms H is in the same plane with a line drawn diagonally across the head J from corner to corner, whereby when the spring K engages any one of the four sides of the head J the arms will stand at an angle inclined in opposite directions as the spring K is successively engaged with the various sides of the head J.

The operation of my device is as follows:

The upper arm H of the upper shaft and the lower arm 11 of the lower shaft are inclined in the direction the train that is to take off the bag is to pass and the bag suspended between the same by engaging the straps or rings at the ends of the bag with these arms H H. The enlarged ends Iwill operate alike at either side and tend to hold the bag in place and insure turning of the arms as the train passes and the catcher on the mail-car takes the bag off the crane. This sudden jerking away of the bag tends to break 06 the straps or rings. My device is intended mainly to prevent this breakage by the turning of the arms H 1-1. As the catcher takes the bag near the middle the tendency is for the same to be doubled around the said catcher. This pulls the ends of the arms H H vigorously toward each other, and the springs K yield and allow the shafts G to turn one-fourth of a revolution, the lugs E taking adapted to be attached to the arm of a mail- I bag crane, and having parallel lugs, and j ournal-bearings, a shaft journaled in said bearings a square" head on said shaft, and arms on the same projecting oppositely in the plane of the diagonal of the square head, substantially as described.

2. As an article of manufacture, a casting and a fiat spring, both adapted to be attached to the arm of a mail-bag crane, said casting having parallel lugs to engage the sides of said springs, and journal-bearings, a shaft rotative in said bearings having a square head at one end and arms at the other end extending in the plane of the diagonal of said head and provided with enlarged ends, substantially as described.

3. I11 a mail-bag crane, a shaft journaled on the arm of the crane, a square head on the inner end of said shaft, a spring successively engaging the sides of said square head, and arms on the outer end of said shaft extending oppositely in the plane of the diagonal of said head, substantially as described.

4:. In combination with the arm of a mailbag crane, a casting attached to the same, a shaft journaled in said casting and parallel to said arm, a square head on the inner end of said shaft, arms on the outer end of said shaft and projecting oppositely in the plane ,of the diagonal of said square head, and having enlarged ends, and a spring successively engaging the sides of the square head on the shaft, substantially as described.

5. In combination with the arm of a mailbag crane, a spring and casting secured to the same, parallel lugs on the casting engaging the sides of the spring, journal-bearings in said casting, a shaft journaled in said bearings, a square head on said shaft engaged by said spring, and arms on the outer end of said shaft projecting oppositely in the plane of the diagonal of the square head, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES W. EARDLY. Witnesses:

LUTHER V. MOULTON, JOHN N. PARKS. 

